Kananga, September 3rd, 2026 (CPA). – Two thousand (2,000) school kits have been donated on Thursday to primary school pupils at the “La Renaissance” school complex in Kananga, Kasai Central, in the center of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), by the First Lady, with a view to encourage the recipients to devote themselves to their studies, during a visit.
“I would like to thank each and every one of you for your warm welcome. There is no need for a long speech. Through this voluntary gesture, the Lona Foundation has fulfilled one of its missions: to encourage you to devote yourselves to your studies,” has declared Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, First Lady of DRC.
For his part, Alphonse Katumbi, the father of a pupil, has welcomed this initiative, which, he says, coincides with the reopening of the school. “I welcome this charitable initiative, which coincides with the reopening of this school complex following its refurbishment, thanks to the involvement of President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi. This gesture is seen as a major incentive for the beneficiaries,” he has said. In her capacity as president of the ‘Lona’ Foundation, for which education is one of the key areas of focus, the First Lady had presided over the handover of school kits to pupils at several schools in Mbuji-Mayi, the main city of Kasai Oriental, on Wednesday September 2nd, 2026. In total, 4,000 pupils from 75 schools have benefited from this donation, enabling them to start the new school year in better conditions.
At Tuya-Kumpala Secondary School, the Head of State’s wife has also launched construction works on modern latrines and a water borehole, with a view to improve hygiene standards and access to water within the school. This infrastructure will enable pupils and teaching staff to work in a healthier environment, particularly at a time when certain provinces of the country are affected by the Ebola virus disease.
This gesture has been warmly welcomed by the pupils, the teaching staff and all the school’s staff. Before leaving Mbuji-Mayi for Kananga, the president of the ‘Lona’ Foundation has also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Simis market in the municipality of Muya. This project aims to improve working and trading conditions for market traders, particularly women who help to support their families, whilst promoting their economic empowerment. CPA/